Combination tie clasp and key holder



United States Patent COMBINATION TIE CLASP AND KEY HOLDER Elmer 0.Bellman, Pomona, Calif.

Application September 20, 1957, SeriaLNo. 685,184

1 Claim. (Cl. 24-49) This invention relates to tie clasps, and moreparticularly to a combination tie clasp and key holder.

The main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved tieclasp which serves as a key holder, the tie clasp being simple inconstruction, being neat in appearance, and providing a means forsupporting a key in an inconspicuous manner and assuring that the personusing the clasp will have the key available whenever required.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved combinationkey holder and tie clasp, the combination holder and clasp beinginexpensive to manufacture, being durable in construction, being easy tomanipulate, and serving as a means for carrying a key in aninconspicuous and safe manner.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description and claim, and from the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an improved combination key holder andtie clasp constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged horizontal cross sectional view taken throughthe combination key holder and tie clasp on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front view showing the manner in which the combination keyholder and tie clasp is used in conjunction with the drape portion of anecktie.

Figure 4 is a plan view showing the key rotated outwardly relative tothe remaining portion of the tie clasp, so that it may be used.

Referring to the drawings, the combination key holder and tie clasp isdesignated generally at 11 and comprises a generally U-shaped body 12 ofrelatively still strip maerial which may have a slight amount ofresiliency so as to provide improved gripping characteristics to thedevice. The body 12 comprises a relatively short arm 13 and a relativelylong arm 14, the long arm being adapted to carry a suitable emblem 15 orother decorative object, secured thereto in any desired manner, as bywelding, soldering, or the like.

Designated at 16 is a jaw member which is hingedly connected to the endof the short arm 13 at 17, as by the provision of outwardly projectinglugs on the end of the arm 13 engaged through depending marginalapertured lugs 18 provided at the intermediate portions of the oppositesides of the jaw member 16. Suitable spring means is provided to biasthe jaw member 16 in a clock- Y wise direction, as viewed in Figure 2,for example, a U- shaped spring wire 20 secured in any suitable mannerbetween the top surface of the end portion of arm 13 and the undersurface of the adjacent end portion of the jaw member 16.

Designated at 21 is a key having an apertured end portion. The endportion of the key 21 is disposed beneath the end portion of the jawmember 16 and is pivotally connected thereto by an eyelet 22 extendingthrough the apertured end portion of the key and the end portion of thejaw member 16 in the manner clearly shown in Figure 2, whereby the key21 is secured between the end portion of jaw member 16 and therelatively long arm 14 for rotation in a plane parallel to the endportion of the jaw member 16. The spring 20 biases the jaw member 16 ina clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, whereby the key 21 isurged against the end of the relatively long arm 14, to define a tieclasp.

In use, this clasp is engaged on the drape portion 23 of a necktie inthe manner illustrated in Figure 3, with the decorated relatively longarm 14 disposed outwardly and with the key 21 hidden behind the tie andbehind the hem portion of the wearers shirt to which the tie is clasped.When it is desired to use the key, the clasp is disengaged from thenecktie and the key 21 is rotated to a position substantiallyperpendicular to the member 12, as shown in Figure 4, whereby the keymay be used in its intended manner.

While a specific embodiment of an improved combination key holder andtie clasp has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will beunderstood that various modifications within the spirit of the inventionmay occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that nolimitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope ofthe appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A combination key and tie clasp comprising a generally U-shaped body ofstrip material having a relatively short first arm and a relatively longsecond arm, a jaw member hingedly connected to said first arm andextending adjacent said second arm, the clamping end portion of said jawmember being substantially parallel to said second arm, a key disposedadjacent and parallel to said jaw member, an eyelet extending throughthe clamping end portion of said jaw member and the apertured endportion of said key and pivotally connecting said key to said jaw memberfor rotation in a plane parallel to and between said end clampingportion of the jaw member and said second arm, and spring means biasingsaid key toward engagement with said second arm, whereby to define a tieclasp.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,231,308 Walsh et al Feb. 11, 1941 2,600,563 Michnoff June 17, 19522,627,636 Brown Feb. 10, 1953 2,723,429 Boots Nov. 15, 1955 2,737,698Falk Mar. 13, 1956

